Packing case



Feb. 24, 1925.

. 1,527,694 J. E. MULCAHY PACKING CASE Filed Feb. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-S5 01 Anya fvv 01 Feb. 24, 1925. v 1,527,694

J. E. MULCAHY PACKING CASE Filed Feb. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zz Z3 Z4x4 l I 1* I Ama a.

Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES JAMES E. MULCAHY, OF GLEVELAND, OHIO.

PACKING CASE.

Application filed February 12, 1923. Serial No. 618,504.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. MULcAHY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county ofCuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new andusefulImprovement in a Packing Case, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to cases which are adapted for shipping heavyarticles wherein the principal dimension is the length, such as pressedsteel frames, structural steel sections, and the like.

Usually pressed steel frames such as the side bars of an automobileframe are manufactured in one place and are then shipped to anotherplace for assembly. The packing of these frames has hitherto been aserious problem in view of the fact that the usual shipment weighs aboutthree thousand pounds. Accordingly, if the case housing these framesshould be dropped even a short distance or if the case should be swungagainst a solid object, the corners are apt to be displaced withconsequent,

damage to the freight. Numerous types of cases have been tried toovercome this diificulty, but heretofore no satisfactory case has beendevised.

One of the objects of my invention therefore, is to provide a packingcase which is capable not only of satisfactorily withstanding hard usageincident to the handling of the class of freight above described, butalso to provide a case which may be readily assembled byun'skilledlabor. In addition, my invention contemplates a; packing case having asmooth exterior which permits one case to be closely packed adjacentanother, thus facilitating the storage thereof in railway cars,steamships and warehouses, and which also serves as a protective measurefor preventing various parts'of the box from being'turned'out of placewith subsequent damage tothe freight while in transfer.

I carry out the above objects by providing a case which comprises aninner and outer container which are preferably complementary shaped andin close fitting engagement with each other. The inner container is madeof comparatively heavy stock, and the various walls thereof are sopositioned with relation to the other walls that the case is preventedfrom collapsing either longitudinally or transversely thereof while inuse. The outer container comprises a sheeting of comparatively lightstock and is also so formed as to prevent collapsing of the case. Theinner container may be constructed apart from the outer container, but Iprefer to make each wall thereof by reinforcing the corresponding wallof the outer container whereby when the walls of the outer container areplaced in juxtaposition, the reinforcement forms the inner container.

The preferred form for carrying out the above objects will behereinafter set forth in the following description which pertains to theaccompanying drawings while the essential features will be summarized inthe claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packing case constructed according tomy invention and having a portion thereof broken away to show the innerconstruction; Figs. 2 and 3 are side and end elevations respectively ofone wall; Fig. i is a vertical longitudinal section taken through thecase; Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken through the case; Figs. 6 and7 are side and end elevations respectively for another wall of the case;

and Figs. 8 and 9 are plan and end elevations respectively of the topand bottom walls of the case.

In the preferred form, my invention cinbodies a case having an inner andan outer container, so formed that the inner container comprisesreinforcement on the walls of the outer container. Accordingly, the casewhen assembled comprises a six-sided figure, wherein 10 and 11constitute the top and bottom walls, 12 and 13 the side walls, and 14and 15 the end walls respectively. To facilitate production, the opposedwalls are similarly constructed, and moreover the reinforcement is sopositioned that when the parts are assembled, substantially all liftingstresses are transmitted directly to the reinforcement.

The top and bottom walls being identical, reference may be had to Figs.8 and 9 where in only one wall is shown. This wall comprises arectangular member comprising sheathing 20 secured upon an open framewhich is spaced inwardly from the marginal edges of the wall. This framecomprises a pair of longitudinal members 21 which are connected bytransverse members 22, shown particularly in Fig. 1. Suitable cornerbraces 23 and transverse braces 24 may be employed" as shown in Fig. 8for reinforcement purposes. The members comprising this frame arepreferably squared stock considerably thicker than the sheathing securedthereto.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the side 12 is also shown as a rectangular unitcomprising sheathing 25, which is secured preferably to a one- .pie'cereinforcing member 26. The member 26-may extend thel entire length ofthe wall but the width of the member is less than thatof the wall so asto provide shoulders against which the opposed faces of the members 21.of the top;and-bottom frames may engage. The reinforcement 26 maycomprise ai plurality of narrow strips placed side {by side, but Iprefer toquse a single board because of theqfact that this has beenfound to produce the most satisfactory results. In Figs. 6 and 7, thewall 14: is-also shown as rectangular inform and formed of sheathing 27-secured to a reinforcing member 28. The width of the end walls ispreferably thesame as that of the side walls, while the width of thereinforcement 28 is the same as that of the reinforcement 26 on the sidewalls. As shownin Fig. G however, the reinforcement 28 terminates shortof-the ends of'the wall,thus providing a space against which the ends ofthe side walls and associated reinforcement may enage.

lVhen' the case is assembled'as shown in Figs. 1, tand 5. thereinforcement on the side and end walls rests upon the reinforcement ofthe bottom wall and is engaged by thereinforcement'of the top wall. Thisin effect provides a very rigid-inner container having solid side andend walls and having fabricated top and bottom 'walls which serve tocarry the load stresses, and thus to preventdamage to the freight if theload is shifted. This construction provides a satisfactory container forshipping freight of great weight and comparatively small volume. Sincethe outer containeris formed complementary to the inner container,additionalprotection is provided against collapsing in a directionlongitudinally or transversely of the case. Moreover, the sheathingprovides a smooth exterior-which facilitates the storage of cases inwarehouses, platforms I and transportation vehicles. i

I claim 1.-*A packing case comprising complementary six-sided inner andouter containers, the router-containerhaving a smooth walled exterior,some of the walls'of-the inner container being parallel toand contiguouswith the -adjacent W'alls of 'the outer container adjacent walls thereofin engagement with each other, the outer container havinga smoothexterior, and the inner container'having'a fabricated top and bottom-andhaving smooth side and end walls, said last=-1nentione'd' walls beingcontiguous with the walls of the outer container.

4. A' packing; case having top and bottom. side and end walls, the-'topand bottomwalls overlapping said walls andhaving a reinforcementdisposedon the inner faces thereof, said reinforcement being spaced inward- 1yfrom the marginal edges thereof, "each of said wallshaving acontinuous-wind contiguous reinforcing member at the inner face thereof,said member being in engagement with the reinforcement on thetop andbottom respectively.

5.A"packing case having-top, "bottom, side and end'walls, the top andbottom having longitudinal and transverse reinforcing members on theinner face thereof, said member being spaced inwardly from the marginaledges of the top and bottom re spectively, the: side walls" having acontinuous reinforcing member extendinglongitudinally thereof and ofless width than the side--walls;--the top and bottom edges of said lastmentioned member being di'sposed intermediate the opposed faces of the:longitudinally extending reinforcing *members of the top andbottom=walls respectively, and the vertical face of said 5 member beingcontiguous with the adjacent side walls.

'6. A packing casehaving t'op and bottom side' and endwalls, the-topand*bottom'=walls having reinforcement on the -inner faces th'ereof,'each' of the side walls' having a" reinforcing :membe'r extendinglongitudinally thereof and each of the end walls having a one-piece 1reinforcing member contiguous with the inner faces thereof, thetopy'bottom and vertical edges of said membei*s='being in engagementwith the opposed I faces of the reinforcement on the top, bottom and:side walls' respectively. V I

In' testimony whereof, I- hereunto affix my signature. V JAMES E.-*MULGAH'Y.

